Page 28 of Dark Soul

“It’s not just vague conversations. They’re scheduling a time to meet.”

“Here?” Dark asked. “Shit. Can you get Thorne on the secure line?”

Rogue nodded, clicked away. A few seconds later, Thorne appeared on the screen.

“I see you’re all still alive,” he said dryly.

“Good to know we have your vote of confidence, Thorne,” Dark said. “We found something. Kvyat is looking for a time to meet with the Iranians. They’re going to exchange something they refer to as the masterpiece. Does that ring any bells?”

“Who told you that?” Thorne asked coldly.

“I traced and cracked their private communications,” Rogue said.

There was silence on the line, Thorne’s face so still on the screen, it might have been a frozen image. Then he exploded. “Did I ask you to do that? Did I tell you to act as private investigators? I thought I made myself clear. You lot are enforcers. I tell you to take someone down, you do it. No questions asked. No research needed,” he spat out.

Blunt instruments.

Dark sighed. It was what they’d agreed to.

But it’s not that easy … nothing is ever that easy.

Thorne’s sharp voice cut into his thoughts. “You’re not Ethan fucking Hunt. Your job is simply to take Kvyat down.”

Silence stretched in the room. Four pairs of eyes looked at Dark. He realized he had a choice. He could still stay silent. Or … not.

“No,” he said.

“No?” Thorne sounded incredulous.

“If all you wanted was Kvyat dead, you could have hired a sniper.” He pointed at the surrounding room. “You certainly have the resources. You didn’t do it, because you wanted something else. You wanted subtle. You wanted creative. You wanted us on it. And you knew we were going to look into this, Thorne. So don’t bullshit me now.”

Thorne’s expression remained frozen for an instant, then relaxed, his lips stretching into something that almost looked like a smile.

“I see. So you want to talk about this masterpiece, then.”

“Did you know about this?”

Thorne nodded. “We did. But we’ve had a team of senior analysts working on this for months. I’m surprised you were able to find this out.” He paused for a second. “We think the word refers to the plans for an experimental nuclear reactor of Russian origin. I don’t have to explain to you gentlemen how dangerous that would be in the hands of the Iranians.”

“And you didn’t tell us…”

“I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t relevant.”

“Iran has been stockpiling enriched uranium for years, without any credible civilian justification, exceeding all international rules and limitations,” Griffin said.

“So take Kvyat down, and solve the problem. Have I made myself clear, gentlemen?”

Again, everybody deferred to Dark for the answer.

“Crystal clear, Thorne.”

11

* * *

Alexia

Candlelight glimmered between them, making Dark’s blue eyes appear even brighter.